Modal verbs

1.

Modal verbs

2. Common features - don’t take –s, - ing, or –ed affixes - are followed by bare infinitive - come before the subjects in

COMMON FEATURES
- DON’T TAKE –S, - ING, OR –ED AFFIXES
- ARE FOLLOWED BY BARE INFINITIVE
- COME BEFORE THE SUBJECTS IN QUESTIONS AND ARE FOLLOWED BY NOT IN
NEGATIONS.
- DON’T HAVE TENSES IN THE NORMAL SENSE
WHEN THEY FOLLOWED BY NORMAL BARE INFINITIVE, THEY REFER TO AN
UNCOMPLETED ACTION OR STATE(PRESENT OR FUTURE)
- WHEN FOLLOWED BY THE BARE PERFECT INFINITIVE, THEY REFER TO THE
COMPLETED ACTION OR STATE (PAST)
-

3. Modal verbs are used to express: - obligation - duty - necessity/absence of necessity - permission/prohibition - possibility -

MODAL VERBS ARE USED TO EXPRESS:
- OBLIGATION
- DUTY
- NECESSITY/ABSENCE OF NECESSITY
- PERMISSION/PROHIBITION
- POSSIBILITY
- ABILITY/INABILITY
- LOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS/DEDUCTIONS
- CRITICISM
- OFFERS/SUGGESTIONS
- PROBABILITY
- ADVICE

4. Must - expresses duty /strong obligation to do smth, Shows that smth. is essential. Usually the speaker has decided that smth

Obligation/duty/necessity
MUST - EXPRESSES DUTY /STRONG OBLIGATION TO DO SMTH, SHOWS THAT
SMTH. IS ESSENTIAL. USUALLY THE SPEAKER HAS DECIDED THAT SMTH IS
NECESSARY
I MUST DO MY HOMEWORK EVERY DAY
HAVE TO – EXPRESSES STRONG NECESSITY/OBLIGATION. IT IS USU. USED
WHEN SOMEBODY OTHER THAN THE SPEAKER HAS DECIDED THAT SMTH. IS
NECESSARY.
THE TEACHER SAID THAT WE HAVE TO READ THIS PRESENTATION UP TO THE END
OF THIS LESSON.
SHOULD/OUGHT TO ARE USED TO EXPRESS DUTY, WEAK
OBLIGATIONS
WE SHOULD KEEP OUR CLASSROOM IN ORDER.

5. Don’t have to/don’t need to/needn’t they all have meaning it is not necessary to do this in the present or future you don’t

Absence of necessity
DON’T HAVE TO/DON’T NEED TO/NEEDN’T
THEY ALL HAVE MEANING IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO DO
THIS IN THE PRESENT OR FUTURE
YOU DON’T NEED TO DO THIS EXERCISE IN WRITTEN FORM
DIDN’T HAVE TO REFER THE ABSENCE OF NECESSITY TO THE PAST
YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO LEARN THIS POEM BY HEART

6. Can/May (more formal) are used to ask for/ give a permission May I use your mobile? Mustn’t / can’t – it is forbidden to do

Permission/prohibition
CAN/MAY (MORE FORMAL) ARE USED TO ASK FOR/ GIVE A
PERMISSION
MAY I USE YOUR MOBILE?
MUSTN’T / CAN’T – IT IS FORBIDDEN TO DO SMTH. IT’S AGAINST THE RULE
OR LAW.
YOU MUSTN’T SHOUT AT THE LESSONS.

7. Can+present infinitive – expresses general possibility. Usually is not used at specific situations. It can be interesting to

Possibility
CAN+PRESENT INFINITIVE – EXPRESSES GENERAL POSSIBILITY. USUALLY
IS NOT USED AT SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.
IT CAN BE INTERESTING TO LEARN SECOND LANGUAGE
COULD/MAY/MIGHT + PRESENT INFINITIVE –POSSIBLE IN
SPECIFIC SITUATION
SHE SHOULD USE GPS NAVIGATOR. SHE MIGHT GET LOST.
COULD/MIGHT/WOULD B+ PERFECT INFINITIVE – REFERS TO SMTH
IN THE PAST THAT WAS POSSIBLE BUT DIDN’T HAPPEN.
YOU COULD HAVE HELPED HIM WITH HIS HOMEWORK ( BUT YOU DIDN’T DO THAT)

8. Can –expresses ability to the present I can speak English fluently could – refers ability to the past I could speak French when

Ability/inability
CAN –EXPRESSES ABILITY TO THE PRESENT
I CAN SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY
COULD – REFERS ABILITY TO THE PAST
I COULD SPEAK FRENCH WHEN I WAS TEN.
WAS ABLE TO - EXPRESSES ABILITY(INABILITY) ON A SPECIFIC
OCCASION IN THE PAST
I WASN’T ABLE TO FIND ANSWERS TO ALL QUESTIONS
COULDN’T - MAY BE USED TO EXPRESS ANY KIND OF INABILITY IN THE
PAST, REPEATED OR SPECIFIC.
I COULDN’T READ WHEN I WAS THREE.

9. Must – you are almost certain that it is/ was true You’ve been working all day long. You must be tired. may/might/could –

Logical assumptions/Deduction
MUST – YOU ARE ALMOST CERTAIN THAT IT IS/ WAS TRUE
YOU’VE BEEN WORKING ALL DAY LONG. YOU MUST BE TIRED.
MAY/MIGHT/COULD – POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS/WAS TRUE
CALL HIM NOW. HE MIGHT BE AT HOME.
CAN’T/COULDN’T – ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THIS IS/WAS
IMPOSSIBLE
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT CAN’T BE YOU. I DON’T BELIEVE IT.

10. Could- you could at least do your homework should – he should have warned us about his being late. ought to - You ought to be

Criticism
COULD- YOU COULD AT LEAST DO YOUR HOMEWORK
SHOULD – HE SHOULD HAVE WARNED US ABOUT HIS BEING LATE.
OUGHT TO -
YOU OUGHT TO BE MORE CAREFUL

11. Can I help you? would you like tea? shall I bring you a book? can/could We could play tennis.

Offers/Suggestions
CAN I HELP YOU?
WOULD YOU LIKE TEA?
SHALL I BRING YOU A BOOK?
CAN/COULD WE COULD PLAY TENNIS.

12. Expresses with will or should he will do it immediately (100 % certainty)

Probability
EXPRESSES WITH WILL OR SHOULD
HE WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY (100 % CERTAINTY)

13. Can be expressed with should/ ought to for expressing general advice you should give up smoking immediately shall is used for

Advice
CAN BE EXPRESSED WITH SHOULD/
OUGHT TO FOR EXPRESSING GENERAL ADVICE
YOU SHOULD GIVE UP SMOKING IMMEDIATELY
SHALL IS USED FOR ASKING THE ADVICE
SHALL I FOLLOW HIS ADVICE?

14. 1. Он сказал что нам надо быть в аэропорту к 6 утра, Чтобы успеть на регистрацию(have to) 2. Ему не нужно было приглашать на

Do the following exercise. Translate these sentences into
English. Indicate what does each modal verb express.
1. ОН СКАЗАЛ ЧТО НАМ НАДО БЫТЬ В АЭРОПОРТУ К 6 УТРА, ЧТОБЫ УСПЕТЬ НА
РЕГИСТРАЦИЮ(HAVE TO)
2. ЕМУ НЕ НУЖНО БЫЛО ПРИГЛАШАТЬ НА ВЕЧЕРИНКУ ВЕСЬ КЛАСС.(NEED)
3. МОЖНО Я ВОСПОЛЬЗУЮСЬ ТВОИМ СЛОВАРИКОМ?
4. ВЫ НЕ ДОЛЖНЫ ЗАХОДИТЬ В ОБЩЕСТВЕННЫЙ ТРАНСПОРТ БЕЗ МАСКИ (MUST)
5. ПРИХОДИ НА ВЕЧЕРИНКУ СЕГОДНЯ. ТАМ МОЖЕТ БЫТЬ ИНТЕРЕСНО.(MIGHT)
6. ОН МОГ БЫ СЕЙЧАС ВСЕЛИТЬСЯ ВМЕСТЕ С НАМИ, ЕСЛИ БЫ НЕ ОПОЗДАЛ НА
АВТОБУС. (COULD)
7. Я СМОГЛА НАЙТИ ХОРОШУЮ НЯНЮ. ( TO BE ABLE TO)
8. ТЫ ДОЛЖНО БЫТЬ ШУТИШЬ( MUST)
9. ДЖОН МОГ БЫ ТЕБЕ ДЕЙСТВИТЕЛЬНО ПОМОЧЬ (COULD)
10. НЕ ЖЕЛАЕТЕ ЛИ ЧАШЕЧКУ ЧАЯ?(WOULD)
11. НЕБО ПРОЯСНЯЕТСЯ. ПОГОДА ЗАВТРА ВЕРОЯТНО УЛУЧШИТЬСЯ. (OUGHT TO)
12. ЗДЕСЬ ДУШНО. МНЕ ОТКРЫТЬ ОКНО?
13. ОНА ДОЛГО ГОТОВИЛАСЬ К ЭКЗАМЕНУ. НЕСОМНЕННО ОНА ЕГО СДАСТ (WILL)